By Jonas Terrado
Game Today (Calasiao, Pangasinan)
5 p.m. — Ginebra vs Rain or Shine
ANTIPOLO CITY — JP Calvo almost stole the spotlight from the highly-anticipated matchup of fellow rookies CJ Perez and Robert Bolick as his key baskets in the fourth quarter helped seal the Columbian Dyip’s 110-100 win over the NorthPort Batang Pier in the PBA Philippine Cup here.
Calvo, the former Letran playmaker, picked late in the first round of the draft, scored eight of his 12 points in the fourth as the Dyip dealt the Batang Pier their first loss after a 2-0 start to continue a surprising start in the season-opening conference.
His three-point play and transition layup off a Jackson Corpuz steal gave Columbian a 103-91 lead with over three minutes left, scuttling NorthPort’s last-ditch rally.
Columbian forged a tie for second place at 2-1 with NorthPort, which lost despite leading by a high of 10 in the third period.
Trailing 66-56, the Dyip scored 30 through the combined efforts of Rashawn McCarthy, Corpuz, Reden Celda and rookie big man Jeepy Faundo while holding the Batang Pier to 13 to grab an 86-79 lead heading into the final canto.
Corpuz’s baseline jumper put the Dyip ahead 91-79, 10:19 remaining in the fourth.
Corpuz, Celda and Faundo scored 15 points apiece while McCarthy added 14 for Columbian.
The duel between the Dyip’s Perez and the Batang Pier’s Bolick was forgotten during the contest, one particular factor being the discrepancy in terms of production.
Perez had 12 points and two rebounds while Bolick was given a rude awakening after averaging 20 points in his first two pro games by going 1-of-7 for just three points.
Stanley Pringle scored 29 points and Mo Tautuaa added 23 points and 12 rebounds but NorthPort wasted a chance to register its first 3-0 start in the Philippine Cup since its pro entry in 2012.
Meanwhile, Raymond Almazan could be sidelined for the second straight game due to an ankle sprain as Rain or Shine battles Barangay Ginebra San Miguel in today’s Petron Saturday Special affair slated 5 p.m. in Calasiao, Pangasinan.
Scores:
COLUMBIAN 110 – Faundo 15, Corpuz 15, Celda 15, McCarthy 14, Calvo 12, Perez 12, Camson 12, Reyes 8, Escoto 4, Khobuntin 3, Cahilig 0, Agovida 0.
NORTHPORT 100 – Pringle 29, Tautuaa 23, Anthony 19, Grey 11, Elorde 5, Guinto 4, Taha 4, Bolick 3, Gabayni 2, Flores 0, Arana 0, Lanete 0, Sollano 0.
Quarters: 24-28, 51-55, 86-79, 110-100.
